The constitution and local government

There will be a referendum at the same time as the federal election on the 14th September. It will ask voters whether they agree to the recognition of local government in the Constitution. A 'yes' vote would guarantee the federal government's ability to directly fund local government projects such as the Roads to Recovery program, and services such as childcare, sporting fields, swimming pools and local libraries. That sounds simple enough but what does it really mean? Well if we do vote yes we are giving the Commonwealth extraordinary powers to free its spending decisions from parliamentary scrutiny and undermine the states.